If Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell had got his way, Gary Johnson would have taken charge of the Gibraltar national side instead of Cheltenham Town.

The two will go head-to-head in the dugout when the sides meet in League Two at the LCI Rail Stadium on Saturday but it could have been very different with Johnson recalling how he met with representatives from the minnow nation, who were only accepted as a Uefa member in 2013 and Fifa member in 2016.

Read More

Johnson has family ties to Gibraltar as his mum was born there but he decided to continue with his club career as he answered an SOS from Cheltenham in March 2015.

“He’s a good lad, Dave,” said Johnson.

David Artell Manager of Crewe Alexandra, during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Yeovil Town and Crewe Alexandra, at Huish Park, Yeovil, Somerset, on October 14th 2017, - PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

“I spoke to him a few times when he was playing for Gibraltar.

“There was a time when there was talk about me going and managing the Gibraltar national team but this job came up and I chose this one.

“David wanted me to take the job and he was their captain.

“It was all inter-mingled with this. I spoke with their representatives.

“I did my stint in Latvia so I already knew what it was like to take a small nation into the European Championships and World Cup and how the supporters still expect you in any country, no matter how small, they still expect you to win a European Cup and World Cup.

“I just felt I’d been there, done that and I still had time in England I wanted to keep my football management career going.”

Gary Johnson

Reflecting on that decision, Johnson feels he has plenty more to offer in club football after successfully undergoing heart surgery earlier this year.

It is particularly poignant with the Robins holding a Blue Day to raise awareness for the British Lung Foundation on Saturday as Johnson knows how much difference such a charity can make to someone’s life.

“Since my operation I think I’ve got longer in the game than maybe before it so it’s certainly revitalised me,” he said.

“It’s the beauty of a heart operation that touch wood has turned out good.

“All the money that goes into the British Heart Foundation, somebody is sitting here that might not have been a few years ago.”